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Phoenix Art Museum visits can be ideal for anyone who is looking for fun things to do in the Arizona capital, particularly if you're interested in the local museums. Known locally as PAM, this large museum in Phoenix's Midtown District is home to an impressive collection of works. Most of these works range from Renaissance era pieces to modern creations, and they cover virtually every major artistic movement. This means that anyone who visits the Phoenix Art Museum will get a very good overview of art in general and how it has changed over the centuries. After getting a good look at some of the older works that are on display, visitors can break for lunch at the excellent onsite café before they take on the newer exhibits.

Regardless of how you choose to approach the various exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum, you will need at least a few hours if you want to see everything. In addition to the impressive permanent collection, this large museum also hosts traveling exhibits, so there is a lot to see. Checking the Phoenix Art Museum events calendar can be a good idea when planning a visit to the Arizona capital, as you just might come across a traveling exhibit that piques your interest. As for the permanent collection, the modern and contemporary collections get a lot of the attention, as they feature works by such renowned artists as Picasso, Goergia O'Keeffe, Auguste Rodin, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. For those who are more interested in older art, there is plenty of that as well.

There are a number of different permanent collections at the Phoenix Art Museum, including Asian and European exhibits. The most archaic pieces in the museum are part of the Asian Collection, and they include ceramics pieces that date as far back as the fifth century. In the European Collection, one of the earlier pieces is a painting entitled Madonna and Child with Two Music Making Angels. This lovely piece is more than 500 years old and depicts Mary breastfeeding the Baby Jesus in the company of miniature minstrels. Both paintings and sculptures help to comprise the Asian and European collections, and you can even get an up close look at a Samurai suit of armor from the nineteenth century. The suit, which hails from Japan, includes a ferocious face mask that hints at its battle-ready design.

As for the other permanent collections that can be found at the Phoenix Art Museum, they include the American Collection, the Latin American Collection, and the Modern Collection, to name a few. Among the works that are of special interest in these collections include a Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington that dates back to 1796, a dazzling shield from Mexico that is ornately decorated, and an M.C. Escher woodcut that confounds the mind. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the main attractions. Those who wish to enjoy repeat visits can always keep the Phoenix Art Museum free admission days in mind, but the general rates are already reasonable, especially considering the extent of the exhibits.

Those who are interested in the Phoenix Art Museum free admission days should know that there are two options. You can either show up on any given Wednesday between the hours of 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., or arrive on the first Friday of the month between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Regardless of whether you pay full price or not at the Phoenix Art Museum, enjoying a free tour on the side is worth considering. Groups of ten or more that want to enjoy a guided tour should know that they are required to arrange everything at least five weeks in advance.

Phoenix Art Museum events include special traveling exhibits that are only on display for a short while, fascinating film showings that cover any number of topics, and lectures by knowledgeable speakers. Families that are interested in getting Phoenix Art Museum free admission can always keep the special PhxArtKids Days in mind when it comes to the events. On these special days, interactive exhibits are in place for both kids and adults to enjoy, and admission between noon and 3 p.m. is free for families, provided that those families aren't too large. Private Phoenix Art Museum events, such as weddings or corporate meetings, can also be enjoyed.